's michelle franzen tells us why. >> reporter: they are the elves to retailers, the major distribution companies, and workers making sure all those gifts ordered online are processed and delivered on time for the holidays. with record-setting online sales this shopping season, companies like amazon, ebay, and u.p.s. are struggling to hire enough workers to meet the demand. >> we're hiring 50,000 seasonal associates across our entire network in the u.s. to help meet demand. >> reporter: u.p.s. set a similar goal to hire 55,000 seasonal workers but the company says several thousand jobs are still waiting to be filled, including positions at its largest hub in louisville, kentucky. the jobs pay between $8.50 and $12 an hour and some companies are even offering cash incentives to employees for referrals. analysts say the challenge for those looking for work? taking a temporary position that may not turn into a full-time job. >> you run the risk of losing those unemployment benefits for that period and if it doesn't become a full-time job, then you have to go through the rigmarole of going

student in ohio to take an newer step. here's nbc's michelle franzen. ♪ >> reporter: aubry ireland is pursuing her dreams -- studying singing and acting at university of cincinnati college conservatory of music -- a passion she says her parents shared and supported. aubry even posted photos on facebook with her parents following performances. but the senior college student says her parents need to keep constant watch over her went too far -- to the point where aubry went to court, asked a judge to grant a stalking order against her parents, and won. in court documents, the 21-year-old told a judge her parents, julie and david, frequently drove from their home in kansas to her campus in ohio, unannounced, to check up on her. they told her and college officials she had mental problems and they could try to have her evaluated. in the filing, she said her parents traveled to cincinnati, showed up at my university, and made threats to my musical theater department and added, they also improperly monitored my phone and computer with tracking software. it is an unusual case, experts say,

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